Ceramics

Ceramics student donates handiwork When Chris Foxwell started general education studies at Hagerstown Community College in 1997, he started molding his future. He took a ceramics class with Ben Culbertson during his first semester and "got hooked. " The Salisbury, Md., native said he had "a good knack for it. I just liked working with clay. " He stayed at HCC until last year, then enrolled at Siena Heights University in Adrian, Mich., where he is pursuing a bachelor of fine arts degree in ceramic arts.

Ceramic artist Joe Campbell said he has heard people at art exhibits talk about his Japanese tea bowls behind his back. And he said he's expecting a similar scene at the Washington County Arts Council on Saturday, opening reception for a dual-exhibit featuring his ceramics. The exhibit, on view through April 15, will also feature photos by Jim Strongin taken during his travels across the globe - hence the exhibit's title "Africa and China: A Visual Odyssey. " Campbell's focus is neither in Africa nor China.

The Tri-State Catholic Golden Age members recently took a three-day tour of Finger Lakes in upstate New York, including the Corning Glass Museum, several wineries and the Seward House in Auburn, N.Y. They also visited the Mackenzie-Childs home and retail shop in Aurora, N.Y., where they saw one-of-a-kind ceramics being painted. Their group is shown next to the boat after taking a two-hour cruise of Cayuga Lake.

Artist Gretchen Wachs had a homecoming of sorts last weekend with the opening of her "Then and Now" exhibit at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts in Hagerstown's City Park. Wachs, who once worked at the museum, saw relatives and childhood friends at the show. Wachs recalls nervously playing a piano recital in the museum when she was around 10 years old. The 1970 North Hagerstown High School graduate served as a curatorial assistant at the museum in the late 1970s.

Artist Cookie Redding was in second grade when she had her first showing. The Chambersburg, Pa., native, now 22, remembers giving her teacher at Hamilton Heights Elementary School drawing after drawing for the little exhibit, displayed along a coat rack. cont. from lifestyle "It's corny now, but it meant a lot then," said Redding, who said the one-girl show hooked her on sharing her art. She has exhibited it whenever she's had the opportunity. Redding's latest exhibition is at the Contemporary Gallery at Marywood University in Scranton, Pa. Running through June 30, the group exhibit with two other graduate students at the school includes a body of work Redding produced during her final semester as a candidate for a master of fine arts degree in ceramics.

Hagerstown Community College will hold its annual faculty art show from Monday, April 8, through Tuesday, April 23, at the Kepler Center. An opening reception will be Saturday, April 13, from 6 to 8 p.m. The event is free and open to the public The exhibit will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through April 23. For more information, call 240-500-2221, or send an email to jhbontempo@hagerstowncc.edu. The show will feature more than 10 faculty artists exhibiting work that includes ceramics, painting, jewelry, drawing, mixed media, and sculpture.

Esther S. Oyler, 94, of Homosassa, Fla., passed away on Monday, June 18, 2012. Esther was born Jan. 12, 1918, in Mercersburg, Pa. She enjoyed a varied career from parts control and aircraft construction with Fairchild Aircraft in Hagerstown, Md. during World War II to positions in retail management. After first moving to Florida in 1968, Esther owned and operated a ceramics business for many years. Esther moved back to Hagerstown in the late-1980s and then returned to Florida in 2005.

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. - This weekend's Berkeley Springs Studio Tour features the works of 27 artists at 19 studios in the Berkeley Springs area. The list of studios and directions to their locations is available at the Berkeley Springs visitors center, 127 Fairfax St.; the Ice House Co-op Gallery at Independence and Mercer streets; or online at www.berkeleyspringsstudiotour.org . During the tour, artists will answer questions and demonstrate their crafts. The artwork includes sculpture, glasswork, precious metal jewelry, basket weaving, textile art, bookbinding, an old-fashioned letter press operation, weaving, quilting, mosaic art, pottery, ceramics and Sumi-e painting.

Hagerstown Community College will hold its annual faculty art show from Monday, April 8, through Tuesday, April 23, at the Kepler Center. An opening reception will be Saturday, April 13, from 6 to 8 p.m. The event is free and open to the public The exhibit will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through April 23. For more information, call 240-500-2221, or send an email to jhbontempo@hagerstowncc.edu. The show will feature more than 10 faculty artists exhibiting work that includes ceramics, painting, jewelry, drawing, mixed media, and sculpture.

Esther S. Oyler, 94, of Homosassa, Fla., passed away on Monday, June 18, 2012. Esther was born Jan. 12, 1918, in Mercersburg, Pa. She enjoyed a varied career from parts control and aircraft construction with Fairchild Aircraft in Hagerstown, Md. during World War II to positions in retail management. After first moving to Florida in 1968, Esther owned and operated a ceramics business for many years. Esther moved back to Hagerstown in the late-1980s and then returned to Florida in 2005.

The Top Five Battle of Hancock Civil War re-enactors, firing demonstrations, story telling, live music and book signings mark the sesquicentennial commemoration of the Battle of Hancock. Brochure with event schedule available at Town Hall. Events begin 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Jan. 6; 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7; 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8. Concert by the Wildcat Regiment Band at 5 p.m. Jan. 7. Events at St. Thomas' Episcopal Church, Hancock Community Center and Hancock Museum & Visitor Center throughout the weekend.

Artwork by Andy Iverson Colorful, graphic paintings by Andy Iverson will be on display. Exhibit continues through Tuesday, Aug. 30. Washington County Arts Council, 14 W. Washington St., Hagerstown. Call 301-791-3132 or go to www.washingtoncountyarts.com . Art in the hallway Gail Cox will be the featured artist for August. Artists donate 25 percent of sales to the auxiliary. Meritus Medical Center, corridor between the medical center lobby and the same day services welcome, off Robinwood Drive, east of Hagerstown.

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.VA. -- A steady crowd attended Saturday's opening day of the 11th annual Berkeley Springs Festival of Light at the Ice House. Maryelen Willinghan, who organizes the festival with vendor Bobbie Rohn, said the festival focuses on spiritual, physical and emotional self-healing. Willinghan, a Berkeley Springs native, said she always has been interested in spiritual stuff, which includes the unknown and paranormal activities. She has studied different religions and anything spiritual, she said.

The Tri-State Catholic Golden Age members recently took a three-day tour of Finger Lakes in upstate New York, including the Corning Glass Museum, several wineries and the Seward House in Auburn, N.Y. They also visited the Mackenzie-Childs home and retail shop in Aurora, N.Y., where they saw one-of-a-kind ceramics being painted. Their group is shown next to the boat after taking a two-hour cruise of Cayuga Lake.

Dear Pat: We built our house on a tight budget years ago. Now that I am divorced, I would like to remodel and install ceramic tile in the bathroom. How do I prepare the new shower walls and add tile? -- Robin T. Dear Robin: Ceramic tile is clearly the wall-finishing material of choice for bathrooms. It is attractive, durable and offers a wide variety of colors, patterns and textures. When properly installed and maintained, ceramic bathroom tile should last as long as the home.

Ceramic artist Joe Campbell said he has heard people at art exhibits talk about his Japanese tea bowls behind his back. And he said he's expecting a similar scene at the Washington County Arts Council on Saturday, opening reception for a dual-exhibit featuring his ceramics. The exhibit, on view through April 15, will also feature photos by Jim Strongin taken during his travels across the globe - hence the exhibit's title "Africa and China: A Visual Odyssey. " Campbell's focus is neither in Africa nor China.